Xiaomi warns the global chip shortage could increase phone prices

There’s a major shortage in computer chips, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult to find products like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Apparently, the issue has reached a point where company costs are rising, which Xiaomi said may eventually be passed on to consumers.

In a recent earnings calls (via Reuters), Xiaomi president Wang Xiang implied that due to global shortages, some of its products might go up in price.

“We will continue to optimize the costs of our hardware devices, that’s for sure,” Wang said. “To be honest, we will do our best to offer the best price we can to consumers. But sometimes, we may have to pass part of the cost increase to the consumer in different cases.”

A number of factors have led to a global shortage in computer chips, including increased demand, slowdowns in production, and sanctions against China from the previous U.S. administration. These issues have all converged to create chaos in the supply chain. Qualcomm, for example, which supplies chips for many of the world’s top OEMs, is struggling to meet orders.

Wang admitted that due to the current landscape, the company is “feeling pressure.” It could mean Xiaomi’s products, which are typically priced on the lower end of the spectrum, could get more expensive. Hopefully, if that does happen, it doesn’t become a trend across the industry.

It’s a difficult situation all around. Passing the cost down to consumers during a pandemic, when many people are unemployed, could be detrimental to a brand. But it makes sense from a business perspective, especially when so many companies are competing to secure the same chips.

Now that vaccines are rolling out in some parts of the world — and lockdown restrictions are being lifted — it remains to be seen if things will turn around. For now, Wang said that Xiaomi is “looking okay,” so let’s not sound the alarm just yet.

Featured image shows off the Xiaomi Mi 11

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Motorola starts rolling out Android 11 to the Moto G 5G Plus

After rolling out Android 11 to the Moto G Pro in February, the Moto G8/G8 Power earlier this month, and the Moto Edge lineup just last week, Lenovo-owned Motorola is now bringing the latest flavor of Android to one more device. The company has started rolling out stable Android 11 to last year’s mid-range Moto G 5G Plus.

The Android 11 update package is about 1.08GB in size and it comes with the version number RPN31.Q4U-39-27-5. As reported by TudoCelular.com, this particular build is meant for the Brazilian dual-SIM variant of the Moto G 5G Plus (model number XT2075-3-DS). The OTA also includes the February 2021 security patches.

With the update, Moto G 5G Plus users can look forward to all the new features and changes introduced in Android 11, including Conversation notifications, Chat bubbles, a built-in screen recorder, media controls in the Quick Settings panel, Smart Device controls, one time permissions for apps requesting location and microphone access, and much more.

Moto G 5G Plus XDA Forums

At the time, the Android 11 update seems to be rolling out to Moto G 5G Plus units in Brazil only, but it should be coming to more regions in the following weeks. In case you haven’t received the OTA notification on your phone, you can manually check for the update by heading over to Settings > System > System update. You can also try out the Lenovo Moto Smart Assistant (LMSA) tool to download the updated firmware right now and flash it using a PC.

Launched in July last year, the Moto G 5G Plus is an affordable 5G-capable smartphone from Motorola, packing a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 SoC, 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage, quadruple cameras, a 5,000mAh battery with 20W fast charging support, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It came with Android 10 out-of-the-box and Motorola released the kernel source code a few months after its launch.

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ASUS’ new AiO V241 is powered by 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake mobile processors

ASUS has refreshed its all-in-one (AiO) PC offering in India with the new AiO V241. The company says that apart from meeting the consumers’ computing needs, the new AiO doubles up as a dedicated multimedia content consumption device where one can watch TV, play console games, catch up on OTT content, stream movies, and more using the HDMI-in port.

ASUS AiO 2021: Specifications

Specification	ASUS AiO V241	ASUS AiO V222
Dimensions & Weight	540 x 409 x 48 ~ 165mm 5.1kg	540 x 409 x 48 ~ 165 mm 4.8kg
Display	23.8-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 100% sRGB 178-degree viewing angle	21.5-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) LED-backlit
Processor	Intel Core i5 1135G7	Intel Core i5 10210 Intel Core i3 10110 Intel Pentium Gold 6405U Intel Pentium Silver J5005 Intel Celeron J4005
GPU	Intel Xe Graphics	Intel UHD
RAM & Storage	Up to 16GB RAM Up to 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD 1TB SATA HDD 7200RPM	Up to 16GB RAM Up to 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD 1TB SATA HDD 7200RPM
Battery & Charger	90W power supply	90W power supply 65W for Celeron
I/O	4x USB 3.2 Type-A USB 2.0 HDMI-in HDMI-out RJ45 Ethernet DC-In 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack Kensington lock slot	4x USB 3.2 Type-A USB 2.0 HDMI-out RJ45 Ethernet DC-In 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack Kensington lock slot
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 4.2/5.0	Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 4.2/5.0
OS	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home
Other Features	1MP 720p camera Wireless keyboard and mouse 2x 3W stereo speakers Optional external USB Optical Drive	1MP 720p camera Wireless keyboard and mouse 2x 3W stereo speakers Optional external USB Optical Drive

According to the press note shared by ASUS, the AiO V241 is powered by Intel’s 11th-gen processor; however, it is worth noting that ASUS is making use of the mobile versions (Core i5-1135G7) with the new Xe graphics, that is usually seen on laptops. The AiO is also available with a more powerful Core i7 version, although that specific model hasn’t been mentioned. There is no discrete GPU on this machine, so don’t expect it to support any high-end gaming capabilities. The AiO will be available with up 16GB of RAM and dual-storage options of up to a 1TB 7200PRM SATA HDD along with up to a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD.

The PC comes with a 23.8-inch IPS display with a full-HD resolution with 100% sRGB coverage and slim 2mm bezels. The display is backed with the ASUS Splendid and ASUS Tru2Life Video technologies for better color vibrancy and details. The display and internal components are packed in a sleek premium body that sits on a metal stand milled out of a single block of aluminum. The AiO also incorporates bass-reflex speakers right under the display, and the company also offers ASUS SonicMaster stereo audio and DTS audio processing algorithm for speakers and headphones.

As for the I/O, the AiO V241 comes with four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, a headphone/microphone combo jack, HDMI-in, HDMI-out, an ethernet LAN port, and a jack for power. The AiO also comes with a 720p webcam with dual microphones and a wireless keyboard and mouse combo offering 2.5mm deep key-travel and large chiclet keys. Wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, with lower-end variants offering Bluetooth 4.2.

Additionally, ASUS has also upgraded the AiO V222, a smaller 22-inch AiO PC that is available at a more affordable price range. Despite being smaller than the V241, this variant can be configured with similar storage and memory options and features the same set of connectivity and I/O ports except for HDMI-in. The biggest difference is that ASUS is offering it with the most basic Intel Celeron J4005 processor going all the way up to a 10th-gen Intel Core i5-10210 processor.

The ASUS AiO V241 will be available at a starting price of ₹61,990 ($855), while the ASUS AiO V222 will be available at a starting price of ₹25,990 ($359). Both models will be available in Black-Gold or White-Silver color options.

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Samsung Galaxy A70s and Galaxy A90 5G are the latest to get the Android 11 update with One UI 3.1

It’s been a busy year for Samsung as the company continues to bring One UI 3.1 to its vast portfolio of devices. The Korean OEM recently rolled out the latest iteration of One UI to the Galaxy A40 and the Galaxy A80. Now, the company has started pushing the stable version of One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 to the Galaxy A70s and the Galaxy A90.

Galaxy A70s

It wasn’t long ago when Samsung brought One UI 3.1 to the Galaxy A70, and now that same love is being shown to the Galaxy A70s. The SM-A707F variant of the Galaxy A70s is receiving the new update in the form of software version A707FDDU3CUC6. Apart from all the Android 11-specific goodies, the update also brings the March 2021 security patches.

Thanks to Samsung Members Community user cpkaneria for the screenshot!

The new build is available for download in the INS region, which is Samsung’s code for India. Since the company prefers to conduct staged software rollouts, the update may take several weeks to reach other regional markets.

Samsung Galaxy A70s XDA Forums

Galaxy A90

Thanks to Samsung Members Community user 서태진 for the screenshot!

The SM-A908N variant of the Galaxy A90 5G has also secured the One UI 3.1 update based on Android 11. The new firmware is tagged as A908NKSU3DUC3 and it carries the March 2021 security patches, just like the Galaxy A70s. Unfortunately, the update is only available for Galaxy A90 owners in South Korea. We can expect it to be available to more users across the globe as the days and weeks go on.

Samsung Galaxy A90 XDA Forums

Users of the Galaxy A70s and the Galaxy A90 5G in the aforementioned regions should receive a notification to update their device. In case you haven’t, you can manually check by heading over to Settings>Software update and hit Download and install. Power users, on the other hand, can skip the queue and manually download the updated firmware packages directly from the company’s update server using XDA’s in-house tools like Samsung Firmware Downloader.

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Save $100 on the Samsung Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV, today only!

Happy Friday! How have you been enjoying Samsung Discover Week? It’s not over yet, as we have a whole weekend of deals ahead of us! Today, though, you can save $100 on the popular Samsung Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV. If you’ve been waiting on a deal to grab a new set, now is your chance!

The Crystal UHD isn’t the only thing on sale, either. Check out everything available for Discover Week below!

Samsung Discover Week

Head over to the Samsung Store to see everything that the retailer has on sale this week.

View the deals at Samsung

With the $100 off, the Samsung Crystal UHD Smart TV goes down to just $500. For a 55-inch TV, that’s really good! This is one of Samsung’s most powerful TV lines, too, and there are some good reasons for it.

The Crystal Display that is the Smart TV’s namesake gives you a great 4K display and super-accurate picture quality. In short, it looks amazing. The Samsung Crystal UHD also has Tap View, where you can mirror media or music from your smartphone to the TV with just a tap. Easier than dealing with a Chromecast, that’s for sure!

There is plenty more to be excited about for this 4K Smart TV, too! From the helpful Auto Game Mode that minimizes input lag to simply a stand that makes sure your wires won’t get in the way, there’s a lot to love with the Samsung Crystal UHD. This a TV that’s ready to be the star of your home theater set-up.

If $500 is a bit too much to pay outright, you can sign up for a payment plan to pay your new Crystal TV off over 24 months. Very helpful! Whatever you do decide, though, don’t delay. You only have until the end of the day to take advantage of this deal!

Samsung Crystal UHD Smart TV

Save $100 on a great TV, today only! The Samsung Crystal UHD TV has a great display and is only $500.

Save $100 at Samsung

Do you have the Samsung Crystal UHD? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments!

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Xiaomi to announce custom mobile chipset during March 29 event

After announcing the arrival of a new Mi MIX smartphone earlier this week, Xiaomi has now teased that it will be launching a new in-house chipset. This won’t be the first time the company launches custom silicon, though, as it has previously launched an in-house SoC, called the Surge S1, back in 2017. The SoC had made an appearance on the Mi 5C, and it was claimed to be more powerful than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625.

According to a new poster shared by Xiaomi on Chinese microblogging website Weibo (via Android Authority), a new “self-developed chip” is on its way. Several executives from the company have shared the same poster that features the words ‘surged’ or ‘surging,’ hinting that the company might continue with the naming scheme. Xiaomi has shared no other information at the moment, but it is safe to assume that the upcoming chip won’t be groundbreaking. It will either be a standalone mobile processor offering performance at par with a current-gen chip from Qualcomm or a supplementary chip that will integrate with an existing or a brand new Snapdragon chipset.

Xiaomi has a grand online event lined up for March 29. The company is expected to launch more devices under its Mi 11 series. Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will launch the Mi 11 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra, and most likely the Mi 11 Lite at the event. Xiaomi has also teased that its Mi MIX series will also be making a comeback on the same date. The last handset under the MIX series was the Mi MIX Alpha, a unique concept device with a wrap-around display. Rumors say that the upcoming smartphone in the series could be the Mi MIX 4, featuring a foldable design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.

Xiaomi’s launch event will be held in China on March 29, and it will kick off at 7:30 PM GMT. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Xiaomi’s global website.

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Microsoft Outlook on desktop will soon show suggested replies for your emails

Microsoft Outlook for Windows will soon receive the suggested replies feature, allowing users to reply to emails with automated responses quickly. This feature has been available on Outlook for Android, iOS, and web clients for a while now, but it looks like the company is finally planning to bring it to Windows at last.

The news comes from a recent update to the Microsoft 365 roadmap (via Neowin), which lists the suggested replies feature as an in-development feature. The description from the Microsoft 365 roadmap reads:

When you receive a message in email that can be answered with a short response, Outlook may suggest three responses that you can use to reply with a couple of clicks. This capability already exists in Outlook on the web, and in Outlook iOS and Android.

As per the roadmap, the feature is slated to release in March, but it hasn’t started to rollout publicly just yet. However, Neowin reports that it’s already available in the Office Insider Beta channel, and beta users can try it right now.

As you can see in the screenshot below, when you receive an email, you will now see three AI-powered suggestions right below the text relevant to the contents of the email.

Microsoft will also be bringing the suggested replies feature for government customers, which is set to roll out in April, presumably after the regular users.

It’s worth noting that Outlook’s counterpart Gmail has long offered a similar functionality on its Android, iOS, and web apps. Dubbed Smart Reply, the feature presents users with three canned responses based on an email’s content. On top of that, Gmail also offers the Smart Compose feature, which provides users automated word suggestions as they’re writing an email.

As noted above, the suggested replies feature hasn’t started to roll out to Outlook Windows users yet. But given that it’s scheduled to release this very month and is already live for Office Insiders, it’s just a matter of time before it goes live for the stable users.

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